Today was supposedly a better way weather wise. Overnight the seaweed analysts must have changed their mind. Rain forecast for the afternoon, they seemed to miss the morning drizzle.

We had put it off waiting for clearer weather, now we had to take the plunge no matter what, we were going to the high places around Wellington for the views of the city. Despite the showers and clouds, the views were fairly clear, no sparkling blue sea, but variations of grey.

Our first stop was Mount Victoria Lookout, this has a view across the bay to Petone and the Hutts. Looking the other way you have a great view of the ferries, cruise liners and Te Papa. The Beehive is just visible hiding behind other buildings. Behind Wellington you can see the wind turbines.  Looking the other way from Wellington there is the airport and Miramar where the Weta studio is.

Down and up more wiggly steep lanes we headed over to Turbine Hill, as suggested by Rosemary’s friend KiWi Jono. This was a trial turbine to check the winds of Wellington for power generation, it was recently replaced in 2016 with a much larger beast, presumably marking a successful trial. Again good views of the bay from further afield, nice light effects from the sun and rain in the bay.

Decided to head over to the other side of the headland to Makara Beach, I hoped to be able to see South Island from the hills where the turbines were working. There was also a café at the beach where we might be able to get lunch. Well, we drove through valleys to get to the beach, so no views of South NZ. Instead we passed paddock after paddock for horses, and signs selling Horse Poo for a dollar. The houses were also remote and large. Makara Beach was a disappointment, lots of wreckage on the beach and the café was closed because of the cyclone which had caused devastation a few weeks ago. Poor Makara Beach residents.

We left and rove up to the nearby Wind Farm, called West Wind. Parked and walked along the headland and there was a view of South New Zealand. We would be travelling along that water tomorrow. We ate our cheese rolls and watch a whole lot of people turn up with 6 porta loos. Looks like some event was occurring there today or tomorrow. Must be athletic as it was being sponsored by a NZ energy drink firm.

We drove back through the Takarau Gorge Road, tight bends alongside a small river, very picturesque. This took us to Johnsonville, from where we headed home. We passed our site and drove on to Eastbourne, stopping at Day’s Bay Wharf where we had an ice cream, watched a fisherman land a large Snapper, and saw the passenger ferry leave the Wharf taking people between Wellington and Day’s Bay, and other locations.

Back at the campsite rain came and went. For half an hour, we actually sat out on our chairs in relative warmth.